All-Ukrainian conference on Orthodox family to be held in Odesa

Conference participants in Odesa in 2025. Photo: Odesa Eparchy

The II All-Ukrainian Conference "In the Footsteps of the Apostles" will be held at the Odesa Theological Seminary on October 5–6, 2026, repors the press service of the institution.

The theme of the forum is "The Orthodox Family as a Domestic Church: Theological Foundations and Sociocultural Challenges". The conference is organized by the Odesa Theological Seminary with the support of the educational portal "Kosma". The conference announcement recalls that the Apostle Paul repeatedly mentioned the concept of the "domestic Church" in his epistles – this was the name given to Christian families that became the first cells of the church community (Rom. 16:3-4; Col. 4:15; Philem. 2).

Priests, teachers and students of theological and secular educational institutions, heads of diocesan departments, Sunday school teachers, and active Orthodox laypeople are invited to participate. The organizers plan to discuss the theological understanding of the family as a small church, the challenges of secularization, the preparation of youth for the sacrament of marriage, the spiritual and moral upbringing of children, pastoral support for families in crisis situations, as well as the protection of the family from the destructive influence of the internet and artificial intelligence.

The conference program is designed for two plenary session days, including spiritual and educational events. The organizing committee provides participants with meals and accommodation in accordance with wartime security standards, while travel expenses are covered by the sending party. Applications are accepted until September 25 via online registration, the link to which is published on the seminary's website.

As the UOJ reported, the forum "In the Footsteps of the Apostles" last year brought together more than 130 representatives of the clergy, educators, and active youth. The current, second conference continues the tradition of discussing relevant pastoral and theological topics within the walls of the Odesa Theological Seminary.

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